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Paul Hagan's Magic The Gathering Deck Garage

Type 2 Dimir Mill Deck
10-14-05

Hey all, and greetings from the deck garage! Before I get rolling this week, I’d like to give a shout out to all of the folks in Philly. How ‘bout them Cowboys?

Unfortunately, it seems that my fantasy team, Hagan’s Hitmen, can’t quite overcome a receiver goose-egging me. 3-2 still isn’t bad, but let’s hope for that to become 4-2 after the week is through.

Now that I’m done being childish, here’s this week’s e-mail…

Hey Paul, Welcome back. I need help with my type 2 Dimir deck, revolving around getting my opponent's deck down to 0.  It's Type 2, so only cards from Kamigawa, Ravnica, and 9th. My budget is mild.

Creatures: 15

2 Belltower Sphinx (U)
2 Circu, Dimir Lobotomist (R)
2 Dimir Doppelganger (R)
3 Dimir Infiltrator (C)
2 Szadek, Lord of Secrets (R)
2 Thoughtpicker Witch (C)
2 Vedalken Entrancer (U)

Spells: 20
2 Disembowl (C)
3 Induce Paranoia (U)
2 Muddle the Mixture (C)
3 Consult the Necrosages (C)
2 Dimir Machinations (U)
4 Glimpse the Unthinkable (R)
2 Psychic Drain (U)
2 Stasis Cell (C)

Land:
11 Island
11 Swamp
2 Dimir Aqueduct (C)
1 Duskmantle, House of Shadow (U)

OK, quick rant -- but keep in mind I’m doing it for your own good. Why is everyone so against running Millstone? As far as I can tell, it still gets the job done. There have been a ton of UB mill deck builds being sent my way, few of them including the card that gave “mill” a name. Rant over, right after I add…

+4 Millstone

Now that that has been taken care of, I can start in on the creatures. I want to keep this deck as straightforward as possible, so let’s go ahead and get rid of any creatures that don’t fit all of these themes:

* Must be cost-effective
* Must fit theme of deck
* Must work well with other cards

-2 Belltower Sphinx [Cost]
-2 Dimir Infiltrator [Theme]
-2 Thoughtpicker Witch [Work]
-2 Vedalken Entrancer [Cost]

I’m not a huge fan of Szadek, Lord of Secrets, if only because he costs a ton. I’m just throwing that out there so everyone knows, but I think he can probably hang out in this deck.

The next thing I want to do is increase the number of Dimir Doppelganger to four. If the point is to put your opponent’s cards into his or her graveyard as quickly as possible, a large body or two is bound to find its way there eventually. Yes, its true, this deck is designed to win via milling an opponent out, but far be it from me to deny an opportunity to win in the traditional method of beatdown.

+2 Dimir Doppelganger

I’d also like to include a couple of copies of Meloku the Clouded Mirror. She provides plenty of bodies to jump in the way of any onslaughts an opponent puts together, is cost effective, and works well with other cards in the deck.

+2 Meloku, the Clouded Mirror

Next up: the counterspells. I realize that this deck is designed to overturn a ton of cards as fast as possible, but let’s not go overboard and play mediocre cards just to fit the theme. Mana Leak and Hinder are still the best two counterspells in the Standard environment right now, and will continue to be so. Out with Induce Paranoia and Muddle the Mixture, in with the goodstuff…

-3 Induce Paranoia
-2 Muddle the Mixture
+4 Mana Leak
+3 Hinder

Right on with four Glimpse the Unthinkable. People are still overhyping this card, but it is a perfect fit here. I would also like to include two copies of Traumatize. Whenever played, Traumatize puts you at the 50% mark to achieving your goal. Think of it that way, and you have to play at least two. I don’t want to include more if only because of the cost -- we are already a bit heavy of high-casting cost spells.

+2 Traumatize

I have to make room for all of these new cards, and the first card to suffer is Psychic Drain. I absolutely do not like this card in any circumstance. It costs too much for too little effect, and although some useful life gain would be nice, not at the price listed here.

The second card that has to go is Stasis Cell. It absolutely costs too much, and under no circumstances should it be played.

-2 Psychic Drain
-2 Stasis Cell

Also, since we have Circu, Szadek, Glimpse, Millstone, *and* Traumatize hanging out in the deck, I don’t really think Dimir Machinations is necessary.

-2 Dimir Machinations

I would like to see some removal in this deck, especially more cost effective removal than Disembowel. I’m still a fan of Rend Flesh, despite its inability to take care of a few large threats, such as Kokusho. I’d also like to add in a couple of copies of Hideous Laughter, as a potential board-sweeper.

-2 Disembowel
+2 Hideous Laughter
+4 Rend Flesh

In the land department, I like Watery Grave enough to include four copies. Duskmantle, House of Shadow also probably deserves another copy.

-2 Island
-4 Swamp
+1 Duskmantle, House of Shadow
+4 Watery Grave

I think that about wraps up work here. Lookie!

CREATURE SPELLS (10):
2 Circu, Dimir Lobotomist
4 Dimir Doppelganger
2 Meloku the Clouded Mirror
2 Szadek, Lord of Secrets

NON-CREATURE SPELLS (26):
3 Consult the Necrosages
4 Glimpse the Unthinkable
2 Hideous Laughter
3 Hinder
4 Mana Leak
4 Millstone
4 Rend Flesh
2 Traumatize

LAND (24):
2 Dimir Aqueduct
2 Duskmantle, House of Shadow
9 Island
7 Swamp
4 Watery Grave

Hope that helps, and good luck!

Play Magic, have fun, see y’all next week.

-Paul Hagan